Letters to the Editor for Dec. 25, 2012

Published: Tuesday, December 25, 2012 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 23, 2012 at 10:51 p.m.

All members of Congress and the president need to get their butts back in Washington and do the job for which they were elected.

They don't need a break; the break they took in August didn't produce a thing. The middle Americans who are suffering from their ineptness are the ones who need a break.

Marjorie Hodge,

Gainesville

Why the call for new trauma centers?

When I arrived in Gainesville in 1982, there was major competition between the then AGH and Shands Hospital for trauma and helicopter transport. This competition dissolved.

One reason is both entities probably realized that the duplicated services were not cost effective. For University Hospital in Jacksonville a trauma center was cost effective, probably because of its payer mix.

Why, all of a sudden, do all of these hospitals want a trauma center? One of the simple answers is that the method of reimbursement by federal and private insurance agencies has changed since 1982.

Hospitals are now reimbursed for patient care by diagnostic related groups (DRGs). Trauma patients, because of the complexity of their injuries, generate a lot of DRGs.

Edward M. Copeland, M.D.,

Gainesville

A suitable site

Alachua County government officials are looking for a suitable space for the Supervisor of Elections Office. Based on the criteria listed in The Gainesville Sun I would recommend that they take a serious look at the soon-to-be vacated Walmart location on Northwest 13th Street.

It has more than enough space, and the extra space could be used by other county offices. It is on a major bus route, within the five-mile radius of downtown, ample parking, has a loading dock and will have large, open space and would not require extensive remodeling expense.

Bill Willis,

Gainesville

Obama's ‘mandate'

President Obama has said that he has a mandate from the majority to increase taxes on the millionaires and billionaires (and anyone earning more than $100,000) and to spend $1.6 trillion.

He does not have a mandate. Only 50 percent of the eligible voters did vote. The 50 percent that did not vote did not like either candidate. Only 25 percent of the eligible voters voted for Obama. It's clear that he does not have a mandate.

James M. Raimondi,

Williston

Hats off, please

I very much enjoyed the article on small rural towns in Sunday's paper. And the photographs were great, too. I just wish someone would tell that boy in Newberry to remove his hat when he's saying the Pledge of Allegiance!

<p><b>Get back to work</b></p><p>All members of Congress and the president need to get their butts back in Washington and do the job for which they were elected.</p><p>They don't need a break; the break they took in August didn't produce a thing. The middle Americans who are suffering from their ineptness are the ones who need a break. </p><p><i>Marjorie Hodge,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>Why the call for new trauma centers?</b></p><p>When I arrived in Gainesville in 1982, there was major competition between the then AGH and Shands Hospital for trauma and helicopter transport. This competition dissolved.</p><p>One reason is both entities probably realized that the duplicated services were not cost effective. For University Hospital in Jacksonville a trauma center was cost effective, probably because of its payer mix.</p><p>Why, all of a sudden, do all of these hospitals want a trauma center? One of the simple answers is that the method of reimbursement by federal and private insurance agencies has changed since 1982.</p><p>Hospitals are now reimbursed for patient care by diagnostic related groups (DRGs). Trauma patients, because of the complexity of their injuries, generate a lot of DRGs.</p><p><i>Edward M. Copeland, M.D.,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>A suitable site</b></p><p>Alachua County government officials are looking for a suitable space for the Supervisor of Elections Office. Based on the criteria listed in The Gainesville Sun I would recommend that they take a serious look at the soon-to-be vacated Walmart location on Northwest 13th Street. </p><p>It has more than enough space, and the extra space could be used by other county offices. It is on a major bus route, within the five-mile radius of downtown, ample parking, has a loading dock and will have large, open space and would not require extensive remodeling expense.</p><p><i>Bill Willis,</p><p>Gainesville</i></p><p><b>Obama's 'mandate'</b></p><p>President Obama has said that he has a mandate from the majority to increase taxes on the millionaires and billionaires (and anyone earning more than $100,000) and to spend $1.6 trillion.</p><p>He does not have a mandate. Only 50 percent of the eligible voters did vote. The 50 percent that did not vote did not like either candidate. Only 25 percent of the eligible voters voted for Obama. It's clear that he does not have a mandate.</p><p><i>James M. Raimondi,</p><p>Williston</i></p><p><b>Hats off, please</b></p><p>I very much enjoyed the article on small rural towns in Sunday's paper. And the photographs were great, too. I just wish someone would tell that boy in Newberry to remove his hat when he's saying the Pledge of Allegiance!</p><p><i>Celeste Rubanick,</p><p>Alachua</i></p>